About this research
Essie Van Zuylen (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu), University of Otago
The purpose of this PhD project is to identify and characterise new drugs which are effective against obligate anaerobic pathogens. Our research is focused on three bacterial pathogens: Fusobacterium nucleatum, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Clostridiodes difficile. Fusobacterium spp. are known to cause disease in both humans and livestock, including foot rot in hooved animals.
Additionally, C. difficile is a hospital-acquired human pathogen which is difficult to treat and eradicate from hospital environments. These anaerobic pathogens urgently require new forms of treatment. Our aims are to characterise the antibacterial mechanism of action of the repurposed Zn-transporting ionophore, PBT2, against both Fusobacterium species. Additionally, we are exploring new inhibitors of C. difficile by repurposing naturally produced (plant-derived) compounds as antibacterials.
The objective of this research is to identify compounds which hold potential as new therapeutics in the treatment of anaerobic infections through identification of novel antibacterial modes of action.
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Dr Sue Adams
Dr Sue Adams
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Kairangahau · Researchers
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Professor Chellie Spiller
Professor Chellie Spiller
Dr Chellie Spiller, of Matawhaiti Iwitea, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, is Professor of Management and Leadership, and Associate Dean Māori at the University of Waikato. She was previously a senior lecturer and Associate Dean Māori and Pacific at the University of Auckland Business School. She has over 30 years of corporate experience in tourism, finance and marketing, holding senior executive positions in New Zealand and abroad, and brings this experience to her academic work and leadership and management development programmes. Her research explores how Māori and indigenous businesses create…